Feb. 13, 2015

Editorial contends cease-fire deal brokered by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Pres Francois Hollande in Minks, Belarus, while far from ideal, offers glimmer of hope for ending conflict in Ukraine; holds Russian Pres won far more concessions in negotiations than his behavior has warranted; urges Western leaders to hold Putin to agreement reached in Minsk. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

News Analysis; European leaders gathered in Minsk, Belarus, to discuss Ukrainian conflict acknowledge that, despite his country's economic woes, Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin holds upper hand because he is willing to use military force to get what he wants; other leaders seeking cease-fire are bound by effort to use diplomacy in negotiations. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

Viktor V Medvedchuk, longtime friend of Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin, is negotiating on behalf of Ukrainian Pres Petro O Poroshenko in talks aimed at ending conflict in eastern Ukraine; some argue that Medvedchuk's experience and potential for easing conflict outweigh his alliances and history of ruthless behavior, but others disagree. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French Pres Francois Hollande, Russian Pres Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Pres Petro Poroshenko meet in Belarus for lengthy, 10-hour talks over conflict in Ukraine; negotiators remain tight-lipped about proceedings, and some fear that talks will yield little more progress than past efforts. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

Elvira S Nabiullina, governor of Bank of Russia who is believer of market forces, is playing balancing act in effort to step back from defending country's embattled ruble, which has lost about half its value over past year; letting currency fall in favor of other economic goals is decision backed by Pres Vladimir V Putin, and is seen as hurtful but needed move to wean nation from imports. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

German security consultant Franz J Sedelmayer has emerged as rare victor over Kremlin's strong-arm legal tactics, wresting millions of dollars in compensation following 20-year legal battle over Russia's seizure of his St Petersburg offices; review of Sedelmayer's case shows how far Vladimir Putin's Russia is willing to go, including trumped-up countercharges and veiled threats, to defend its national interests. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

Pres Obama will release his second, and final, national security strategy as urgency grows over how to combat Islamic State and counter Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Russian opposition activist Aleksei A Nalvany, who has been confined to house arrest for year, is organizing March 1 demonstration in Moscow against Russia's occupation of Ukraine; Nalvany has expressed hope that public opposition to Pres Vladimir V Putin's policies there and economic problems at home has grown enough to send strong message. MORE

Feb. 4, 2015

Saudi Arabia is attempting to pressure Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin to drop his support of Syrian Pres Bashar al-Assad, presenting possibility of reducing its oil supply and therefore sending prices up; Russia would benefit from higher prices, as its oil-based economy is ailing (Series: By the Barrel). MORE

Feb. 4, 2015

Philippe and Nicolas de Villiers, successful french operators of historical theme parks, are planning new operation in Crimea; pair will avoid troubled episodes in region's recent history, instead choosing to portray its Byzantine lineage from the distant past; have struck deal with Russian investors and have met with Russian Pres Vladimir Putin. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Plan unveiled by Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin's government to address myriad problems facing country's economy as oil prices plummet has been almost universally dismissed as inadequate by economists; analysts and experts say government is likely trying to replicate its response to 2008 decline in oil prices, but many have questioned whether it has financial reserves to weather period of current low prices (Series: By the Barrel). MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Editorial calls on United States and Europe to determine whether it is feasible to work with Russia toward ending conflict in eastern Ukraine; warns if Pres Vladimir V Putin seeks to create permanent rebel-held enclave in eastern Ukraine, US and Europe must make clear to him that they will provide increased monetary and military support to Ukraine. MORE

Jan. 28, 2015

British officials start public investigation of death of former KGB officer and Kremlin critic Alexander V Litvinenko, who died of radiation poisoning in 2006; lawyers for Litvinenko's widow say they plan to present evidence leading directly Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin and his ties to Russian Mafia. MORE

Jan. 28, 2015

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column argues that Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin's actions in Ukraine constitute greatest geopolitical crisis in world, one that is far more worrisome than fight against Islamic State group; warns that if Putin manages to foil Ukraine's attempt to become more democratic, all countries that neighbor Russia will be in danger; underscores necessity of West providing aid to Ukraine. MORE

Jan. 27, 2015

Op-Ed article by philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy and philanthropist George Soros calls on Western nations to provide at least $15 billion in aid to shore up Ukraine's fledgling democracy as it fights back against Russian military and financial pressure; argues aid would not only protect freedom in Ukraine, but would strike significant blow against authoritarianism of Russian Pres Vladimir Putin. MORE

Jan. 24, 2015

Resurgence of warfare in eastern Ukraine dashes hopes of renewing cease-fire signed in September 2014, while evidence of Russian troops in area dims prospect of Putin's withdrawal from conflict; analysts say Putin's continuing support of separatist rebels is part of larger conflict with United States and has bolstered his approval rating in Russia. MORE

Jan. 22, 2015

Gazprom, Russian state-owned gas company, has made moves suggesting Pres Vladimir V Putin's 2014 declaration that country was giving up natural gas pipeline under Black Sea to Europe and would turn to Turkey instead was in earnest; there had been speculation in West that Putin was bluffing, but Gazprom has signaled that it is intent on new project, dubbed Turkish Stream. MORE

Jan. 16, 2015

Dozen opposition protesters are arrested in Moscow after clashes between supporters of Pres Vladimir V Putin and those of Russia's most prominent opposition leader Aleksei A Navalny. MORE

Jan. 14, 2015

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin will not be attending 70th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz concentration camps in Poland, citing fact that he was not invited; ceremony organizers say no invitations were issued to any heads of state. MORE

Jan. 1, 2015

Few remaining Russian demonstrators protesting conviction of anticorruption activist Alexsei A Navalny are removed by riot police from Moscow's Manezh Square; Russia's 'white ribbon' opposition movement, which has been working to oust Pres Vladimir Putin since 2011, continues to dwindle as members are prosecuted, flee country or give up hope. MORE

Dec. 31, 2014

Russian President Vladimir V Putin bullied and urged Bulgaria for years to accept his plan for South Stream pipeline that would deliver natural gas throughout southern Europe, but he underestimated West's response to his aggression in Ukraine and stopped project; serves as case study of how Putin has used energy as foreign-policy tool and wielded tools of crony capitalism in Europe and at home (Series: Putin's Way). MORE

Dec. 31, 2014

Russian dissenter Aleksei A Navalny defies his house arrest to join antigovernment rally after court sentences his brother Oleg to three and half years in prison; fraud trial was widely seen as political revenge for Navalny's protest activities against Pres Vladimir V Putin's government; analysts likely goal of Oleg's sentence was to punish Navalny. MORE

Dec. 31, 2014

Op-Ed article by author Emily Parker holds Russian dissenter Aleksei A Navalny presents new kind of threat to regime of Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin due to his use of the Internet as tool of political opposition; points to street protests he organized in wake of sentencing of his brother Oleg; posits if Russian economic crisis creates possibility of mass uprising, Navalny and his supporters and their social media savvy will be ready to take advantage of it. MORE

Dec. 27, 2014

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin has developed a political and economic system that rewards a new class of oligarchs even as it severely punishes those who challenge the Kremlin's interests; latest case is fate of Vladimir P Yevtushenkov, who despite longstanding loyalty to Putin, was punished in public and humiliating manner, with his lifetime fortune in oil company Bashneft returned to the state (Series: Putin's Way). MORE

Dec. 27, 2014

Editorial observes that Russian Pres Vladimir Putin is courting new allies in North Korea, China and India, as in light of tensions between Russia and West over conflict in Ukraine; questions potential effects of such relationships both on Russia's fortunes and on its willingness to cooperate with West. MORE

Dec. 26, 2014

Editorial argues that Facebook's decision to block event page for opposition demonstration at behest of Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin's government is reminder that social media companies will not protect free speech if it conflicts with their lucrative business opportunities. MORE

Dec. 23, 2014

Facebook's decision to block page intended to rouse opponents of Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin has embroiled site in political controversy and prompted accusations of censorship; event page on site promoted rally in favor of leading opposition figure Aleksei A Navalny. MORE

Dec. 22, 2014

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column argues veracity of idea, touted by British journalist Norman Angell in early 1900s, that modern warfare impoverishes victors as well as vanquished; holds that Putin, and American neocons who appear envious of his conquest of Crimea, seems unaware of war's costs; notes that Crimea's economy is imploding while Iraq war cost $800 billion and weakened America's position in world; says conquest is, in effect, for losers. MORE

Dec. 21, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column criticizes Republicans who praised Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin and mocked Pres Obama's handling of relations with Russia since March 2014; holds that Putin has been shown to be delusional and Russia is now finding out limits of its power; warns of danger a defeated Russia presents to rest of the world. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column reflects that Russia's current financial crisis, triggered by declines in global oil prices and ruble, highlights vulnerability of Pres Vladimir V Putin; maintains Putin's crony capitalism, which permitted large-scale borrowing by private sector from abroad, has left country in dire straits. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin holds three-hour news conference dismissing fears about country's financial turmoil; episode gives him opportunity to make his first public remarks since ruble exchange rate began swinging wildly; suggests revived global demand for oil will eventually solve problems. MORE

Dec. 18, 2014

Analysts say upheaval in Russian economy may be pushing Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin to seek compromise in crisis over Ukraine, though he has proved so erratic that progress is difficult to gauge. MORE

Dec. 18, 2014

Serge Schmemann Editorial Notebook observes the 25th anniversary of death of human rights champion Andrei Sakharov is apt time to reflect on his legacy and the path that Russia has taken since; contends were he alive today, he would be tireless critic of Pres Vladimir V Putin's policies. MORE

Dec. 17, 2014

Russia is confronted with worsening currency crisis as ruble slides, with fearful consumers crowding stores to trade currency for durable goods; Pres Vladimir V Putin wrangles with situation, which was driven by sharp decline in price of oil; analysts say financial disaster could come quickly if global markets lose confidence in country's ability to control damage. MORE

Dec. 17, 2014

Editorial blames Russian Pres Vladimir Putin's disastrous policies for economic calamity afflicting nation; notes that while ruble fell in value due to collapse of global oil prices and sanctions imposed by West, economic system set up by Putin is also responsible; urges Putin to withdraw from Ukraine, which would bring immediate relief from sanctions. MORE

Dec. 12, 2014

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin makes brief visit to India for annual summit meeting and signs agreements on various projects; simultaneously, Sergei Aksyonov, prime minister of Crimea, Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia, signs memorandum of understanding with group of Indian businessman who call themselves the Indo-Crimean Partnership. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

News analysis; Russian Pres Vladimir Putin, shunned by many Western leaders, visits longtime ally India to discuss possible trade projects; Russia's partnership with India seems uncertain, however, as India grows less interested in geopolitics and more interested in economic growth, which Russia may not be in best position to help foster. MORE

Dec. 7, 2014

Serge Schmemann Quick History column reflects on events of the week, including Staten Island grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in death of Eric Garner, Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin's annual state of the nation address and valuation of Uber at beyond $40 billion. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin, in yearly address, tries to reassure nation that his bold foreign policy will not bring Russia to economic ruin; he faces tensions on two defining events in his leadership, as Chechen activists kill 20 people and oil prices and the ruble plunge from economic sanctions over his annexation of Crimea; critics berate speech, saying Putin does not admit how bad problems are or his part in causing them. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

Islamist militants and government security forces in Chechen capital of Grozny engage in violent gun battle that leaves 20 people dead; action comes hours before Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin's State of the Nation speech, but he only makes passing reference to attack; analysts speculate that assault was carried out by fighters linked to the Islamic State or other radical groups fighting in Syria. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

Editorial asserts it is no surprise that Russian Pres Vladimir Putin delivered another hyperaggressive rant about the West to group of loyal Russian elite at the Kremlin, declining to address his country's problem with any hint of realism; questions whether Putin's strategy will be enough to quell Russian concerns about state of the country and need for an easing of tensions in Ukraine crisis. MORE

Dec. 3, 2014

Russia faces impending recession, presenting challenges to Pres Vladimir V Putin, including plummeting oil prices and a devalued ruble; country owes almost $700 billion to Western banks; there is speculation Putin will announce more liberal or more centralized economic policies in upcoming speech. MORE

Dec. 3, 2014

Profile of Pavel Durov, founder of Vkontakte, Russia's most popular social network, who fled country in April following clash with government of Pres Vladimir Putin; Durov departed after refusing to release data of Ukrainian protest leaders and has since led life of exile, moving from country to country every few weeks with small band of programmers. MORE

Dec. 2, 2014

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin announces he will scrap South Stream natural gas pipeline, project seen by West as thinly veiled attempt to make Russia dominant supplier in Europe while bypassing Ukraine; cancellation is rare diplomatic defeat for Putin and rare victory for European Union and the Obama administration; Putin says Russia will redirect pipeline through Turkey. MORE

Nov. 25, 2014

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin signs treaty to expand Russia's authority over separatist Georgian region of Abkhazia; accord, which broadens Kremlin's role there and allows residents to easily obtain Russian citizenship, deepens concern in the West over Russia's expansionist aspirations. MORE

Vladimir V. Putin is likely to be a featured guest at a military parade in Tiananmen Square marking the defeat of Japan in World War II, an event seen as underscoring the anti-Japanese theme of China’s foreign poicy under Xi Jinping.